Horse | The One Wiki to Rule Them All | Fandom powered by Wikia Edit Asfaloth was the horse of Glorfindel . He was a white horse whose pace was light and smooth but swift. Glorfindel rode Asfaloth using a saddle with stirrups and a headstall studded with jewels. On October 9, 3018 , Glorfindel left Rivendell riding Asfaloth in search of Frodo Baggins . The Elf-lord rode his horse down the Great East Road to the Last Bridge , where they encountered three Ringwraiths . They pursued the Ringwraiths westward and encountered two more before returning to pick up Frodo's trail. On October 18, they caught up to the hobbits and Aragorn , and Glorfindel set the wounded Frodo upon Asfaloth. As they approached the Ford of Bruinen on October 20, the Ringwraiths appeared. Asfaloth leaped forward, but Frodo reined the horse in, feeling a strange reluctance to flee.

Then Glorfindel called out, "Noro lim, noro lim, Asfaloth!" and the horse ran swiftly down the Road, outpacing the steeds of the Ringwraiths. Asfaloth passed right in front of one of the Black Riders and then plunged into the waters of the Bruinen, carrying Frodo across the Ford to the edge of Rivendell. 'Ride on! Ride on!' cried Glorfindel, and then loud and clear he called to the horse in the elf-tongue: noro lim, noro lim, Asfaloth! Edit Bill is bought by Frodo Baggins and his companions in Bree , as they fled the Shire on their way to Rivendell . This was necessary as their own ponies had been stolen from the stables of The Prancing Pony inn, where they spent the night. Bill was purchased from Bill Ferny , who was in league with the spies who stole the other ponies. Ferny was a cruel man who tormented Bill, but after being purchased by the hobbits Bill became a much happier pony. He was given the name 'Bill' by Sam Gamgee shortly after the party left Bree.

After arriving in Rivendell, Bill became acquainted with the elvish horses, and this influence resulted in a good deal of self-improvement. He left Rivendell a much wiser pony, not to mention healthier and happier. He accompanied the Fellowship of the Ring from Rivendell to the doors of Moria , but had to be left behind there because the company could not take a pony through the mines of Moria. All thought him killed by either the Watcher in the Water or wolves, but being a wise pony by this point, he managed to survive on his own and travelled back to Bree. There, he was nursed back to health at The Prancing Pony, until he eventually was joyfully reunited with Sam on his return journey to the Shire. Sam apparently took Bill back to Hobbiton for the rest of his life. In the trilogy of film adaptations of the Lord of the Rings by Peter Jackson , Bill only appears in The Fellowship of the Ring . Originally, a treatment in line with the books was going to be used: Bill would be presumed to have been killed by the Watcher in the Water, but then re-appear alive as a surprise at the end of The Return of the King.

However, several producers objected to this because The Return of the King film adaptation would be released two years after The Fellowship of the Ring, and they didn't want the audience to be horrified and for two full years think that Bill had gruesomely died. As a result, in the final version Bill is seen being peacefully released from the Fellowship outside Moria, a significant amount of time before the Watcher in the Water attacks, with the implication that he will find his way home. Although this is the only time Bill the pony expressly appears in the films, Sam is riding a pony back into Hobbiton at the end of The Return of the King, and it could presumably be Bill. Edit In Peter Jackson 's movie version of The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers , Aragorn rides a horse named Brego, apparently named after a king of the same name . The horse once belonged to Éowyn 's cousin, but during the war of the ring, the people of Rohan considered the horse half-mad. Aragorn however was able to calm him and had him set free saying that the horse had seen enough of war.

Later after falling off a cliff after fighting Wargs , Brego came to Aragorn who used him as a mount from that point on. Edit Bumpkin was one of the five ponies that Merry Brandybuck had ready at Crickhollow for the hobbits to use on their journey. When they set out on September 26, 3018, each hobbit rode a pony while fifth carried their extra baggage. At the house of Tom Bombadil , the ponies got to know Tom's pony Fatty Lumpkin , and when the ponies became frightened in the fog on the Barrow-downs , they ran off to find their friend. Tom called the ponies by names he had given them - Sharp-ears, Wise-nose, Swish-tail, Bumpkin, and White-socks - and they returned to the hobbits still bearing their burdens. At The Prancing Pony in Bree , the ponies were let out of the stables in an attempt to delay the hobbits' departure. The five ponies ran off to the Barrow-downs in search of Fatty Lumpkin.

They stayed with Tom Bombadil for a while, but when Tom learned what had happened, he sent the ponies to Barliman Butterbur . The ponies remained in Bree, where they worked hard but were well cared for by Bob. Edit Fatty Lumpkin is the pony that is ridden by Tom Bombadil . In The Fellowship of the Ring , the hobbits' (Sam, Merry, Pippin and Frodo) own ponies get to know Fatty Lumpkin and manage to find him after the hobbits encounter a fog on the Barrow Downs. Although he belongs to Tom, he seldom rode him and was often left to wander free in the wilderness. Edit He was described as being as intelligent as any human, could understand the speech of men, and was the first of the Mearas . Felaróf was a wild foal when he was captured by Eorl the Young 's father Léod, a tamer of horses. Despite no one being able to tame it, Léod attempted to mount it, but was killed when the stallion threw him.

Eorl vowed to avenge his father, but did not slay it, naming it Felaróf and commanding the horse to serve him. Eorl rode him without bit or bridle. They took part in the battle of the Field of Celebrant . Flood Shadowfax as portrayed in the live action film versions of The Two Towers and The Return of the King Shadowfax is a mighty horse of Rohan , the chief of the Mearas , tamed by Gandalf and reluctantly granted as a gift to him (after Gandalf had borrowed him for some time) by King Théoden of the Rohirrim . No Man could tame Shadowfax. He would not tolerate a bridle or saddle, and only carried Gandalf by choice. The great horse also bore a hobbit, Pippin , as well as the dwarf Gimli for a short time during the War of the Ring . Like the other Mearas, Shadowfax was a grey/silver stallion , and could understand the speech of Men. He was also seemingly fearless, and could run faster than any other horse in Middle-Earth.

In an unpublished epilogue and letters Tolkien stated that Shadowfax passed to Valinor over the sea with Gandalf, but in The Lord of the Rings itself this is only hinted at by mention of Gandalf standing near a "great grey horse" on the quay just before departing. In the film adaptations of The Two Towers and The Return of the King , Shadowfax is portrayed by two grey horses of the Andalusian breed. (Almost all horses that appear white are in fact grays, including all the "white" horses in the LotR movies.) Edit Snowmane, foal of Lightfoot, was the mount of King Théoden , on which he rode into the Battle of the Pelennor Fields . He was certainly weaker than Shadowfax , who was claimed by Gandalf ; however, since his master was the King of Rohan he was most likely one of the Mearas himself. Snowmane accompanied Théoden to the Battle of the Hornburg , and was ridden on the final charge out of the fortress. At the battle of the Pelennor, however, Snowmane was pierced by a black dart, causing him to fall and crush Théoden beneath him.

He was buried with honour on the field of battle; his grave, known as Snowmane's Howe, bore the inscription: Faithful servant yet master's bane Lightfoot's foal, swift Snowmane. Tom Bombadil | The One Wiki to Rule Them All | Fandom powered by Wikia "Tom Bombadil is a merry fellow! Bright Blue his jacket is, and his boots are yellow!" — Tom Bombadil Tom Bombadil was an enigmatic figure that lived throughout the history of Arda . He was known by the Elves as Iarwain Ben-adar ("Oldest and Fatherless" in Sindarin ), who dwelt in the valley of the river Withywindle , east of the Shire . A mysterious being, Tom lived in the depths of the Old Forest , close to the Barrow Downs . His lands were not particularly extensive, but within his domain his power over virtually everything in it was extraordinary. Tom was a paradoxical creature, one moment defeating ancient forces with hardly an effort, the next capering and singing nonsensical songs. He lived with his wife Goldberry , "Daughter of the River," far from any other settlement.

Although seemingly benevolent, he took no stance against the Dark Lords . Contents "Eldest, that's what I am... Tom remembers the first raindrop and the first acorn... He knew the dark under the stars when it was fearless - before the Dark Lord came from Outside." — Tom Bombadil (The Lord of the Rings) The origins and nature of Tom Bombadil are unknown; however, he already existed when the Dark Lord came to Arda [1] ,signifying he was alive even before the coming of the Valar . His role and nature in the First Age is unknown, but he must have witnessed most of the major events and battles. He also witnessed the reducing of the great forests that covered all Middle-earth , and perhaps of his powers. [2] The level of his interactions with the outside world is also unclear; however, he seemed to have a name among many peoples and perhaps became a folkloric figure in the traditions and legends of Elves , Dwarves and Men . He has already also lived in the west much before the Elves went there and the tides were folded. It had been sometime in this period, probably, that he met the River-daughter, Goldberry , with whom he would eventually marry.

[3] Third Age Edit In TA 3018 , Frodo and his company had a chance meeting with Bombadil in the Old Forest after a nearly disastrous encounter with Old Man Willow . Frodo, who had fled from the tree looking for help, enlisted Bombadil, who had been out gathering water lilies. Bombadil went immediately with Frodo to the tree and commanded it to release its prisoners, Merry and Pippin, which it immediately did. He then invited Frodo and his companions to his home, where the Hobbits had an almost dreamlike stay, feasting and making merry with Tom. In this state, Frodo rather inadvertently told Tom all about the Ring and his quest, and when Tom asked to inspect the Ring, Frodo, without question, allowed him to. Tom then put the Ring on his finger, yet not only did he not disappear, but the Ring appeared to have no effect on him at all. After making the Ring itself vanish with a sleight-of-hand trick, he returned it to Frodo, who, slightly suspicious that it had not made Tom vanish, put it on to make sure it was the genuine Ring.

Tom surprised him yet again by revealing that he could see Frodo even with the Ring on, and told Frodo to remove it, stating that his hand was fairer without it. After two days resting and feasting at Tom's home, the Hobbits set out again, only to be captured the next day by Wights on the Barrow-downs Fortunately, Tom once again came to their rescue, dispersing the Wights and breaking open their tomb. [4] After this, he escorted the Hobbits to the borders of his land and left them there. The peril of the hobbits was not over; an attack on their lives was carried out, and their ponies were set loose. The ponies apparently remembered the care they were given in the house of Tom Bombadil, and returned to stay beside Tom's own pony, Fatty Lumpkin. He returned them to Barliman Butterbur, the proprietor of The Prancing Pony. Since he had paid eighteen pence as compensation for the loss, he was now the owner of five fine ponies. [5] Over a month later, Tom became a topic of discussion at the Council of Elrond .

There, Elrond, who had apparently met Tom in times long past, reminisced about him briefly before the question was put before the Council of whether or not to give the Ring to Tom, as it appeared as though Tom may have had power over even the Ring within his lands. However, Gandalf quickly dismissed the idea, saying that rather than Tom having power over the Ring, the Ring simply had no power over Tom. He was immune to its influence, but he could not alter it, nor break its power over others. Additionally, he said that, while Tom might be willing to take the Ring if asked by all the Free People of the world, he might do so, but would not understand the reason. Due to this, Tom would have likely either forget about it or throw it away, as such things had little relevance to him. It was also mentioned that taking the Ring back to him would be impossible to accomplish without it becoming known to Sauron, and that sooner or later, Sauron would bend all his power towards Tom's realm to take the Ring back. Despite his mastery within his realm, it was assumed that Tom would not have been able to defy that power alone.

After War Four years after the One Ring was destroyed, Gandalf spent some time with Bombadil. It is unknown how the meeting was or what they discussed between them. Interpretations and Description See also: The Letters of J. R. R. Tolkien , with special reference to Letters 144 and 153. [7] Abilities Edit Goldberry described him as being "Master of wood, water and hill." The only reason the fellowship couldn't give the ring to Tom is because its power and its interest to him was so small that Gandalf believed he'd likely misplace it. Etymology Edit Tom Bombadil went by many names: To the Elves and Dúnedain , he was known as Iarwain Ben-adar, which translates to "oldest and fatherless". [2] Iarwain literally means "Old-young". [8] To Men of the Vales of Anduin and Rohan , he was known as Orald. [2] This is an Old English word meaning "very ancient. [9] The Dwarves knew him as Forn.

[2] This too is a reference to his age: it is Old Norse for "(belonging to) ancient (days)". [9] In some imprints of The History of Middle-earth Index, this name was accidentally spelled with a "P" as the first letter. [10] Tom Bombadil is said to be a Bucklandish name, added by Hobbit chroniclers to his many older ones. It is, like many names of the Bucklanders, untranslatable. [11] Inspiration Edit Tom Bombadil was inspired primarily from a doll Tolkien's son, Michael, toyed with. Paula Marmor notes that bobadil is an archaic word meaning "braggart", as seen in the character "Captain Bobadill" in the English play Every Man in His Humour. Because of its Bucklandish form, An Introduction to Elvish lists the name Bombadil under the "Celtic-sounding names". However, it is said that the word derives from Boabdil, the Spaniard name of Abu Abdillah Muhammad XII, the last Moorish ruler of Granada. [12] John D.

Rateliff has noted a theory launched by scholar Justin Noetzel. In the latter's paper "Beorn and Tom Bombadil: Mythology, Narrative, and The Most (Non) Essential Characters in Middle-earth", Noetzel suggests an association of Tom Bombadil with the Celtic Otherworld and tales of the Tuatha Dé Danann. [13] In The Letters of J. R. R. Tolkien , Tolkien describes Goldberry as the seasonal changes in nature, and Tom Bombadil as the spirit of the (vanishing) Oxford and Berkshire countryside, meaning that Tom is the countryside existing in Time, alive and embodied; However, this letter was in reference to works which pre-dated the writings of Lord of The Rings and thus may not be true of Tom as he appears in Lord of the Rings. Quotes Edit In many film and radio adaptations of The Lord of the Rings, Bombadil is notable by his absence, possibly because nobody knows quite what to do with him.

Peter Jackson justified his omission of Bombadil from the film The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring by pointing out that he did little to advance the story, having nothing to do with the Ring storyline, and serving little purpose when it came to getting the hobbits to Rivendell, and putting together the Fellowship. However, much of Bombadil's dialogue, and the scene in which the hobbits meet Old Man Willow , are transplanted into the scenes that Merry and Pippin share with Treebeard in The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers . Video games Tom Bombadil - Tolkien Gateway Tom Bombadil Tom Bombadil The name Tom refers to more than one character, item or concept. For a list of other meanings, see Tom (disambiguation) . "Eldest, that's what I am... Tom remembers the first raindrop and the first acorn... he knew the dark under the stars when it was fearless – before the Dark Lord came from Outside." Blue jacket and hat, boots Weaponry Images of Tom Bombadil Tom Bombadil was an enigmatic figure that lived throughout the history of Arda .

Living in the depths of the Old Forest , he seemed to possess unequaled power in the land around his dwelling. Although seemingly benevolent, he took no stance against the Dark Lords . His existence passed into Hobbit lore and was referenced in poems such as The Adventures of Tom Bombadil . Contents Tom Bombadil by Olanda Fong-Surdenas "He is a strange creature." ― Elrond , The Council of Elrond The origins and nature of Tom Bombadil are unknown; however, he already existed when the Dark Lord came to Arda , [1] signifying he was alive even before the coming of the Valar . His role and nature in the Elder Days is unknown, but he must have witnessed most of the major events and battles. He also witnessed the reducing of the great forests that covered all Middle-earth , and perhaps of his powers. [2] The level of his interactions with the outside world is also unclear; however, he seemed to have a name among many peoples and perhaps became a folkloric figure in the traditions and legends of Elves, Dwarves and Men.

[2] [3] During the Third Age , Tom Bombadil lived in a little house by the river Withywindle in the Old Forest , together with his lovely wife Goldberry . He had contact with the Bucklanders [3] and Farmer Maggot , and perhaps it was this to which he owed his jolly and whimsical attitude. However, since he was merry and benevolent, some of the Free Peoples considered him a potential ally (for example, Elrond and Erestor considered that he should be present at the Council of Elrond ). However, according to Gandalf , Tom Bombadil was perhaps not fully aware of the struggle of Light and Darkness and could not prove useful to their causes. [2] [ edit ] War of the Ring Ted Nasmith - The Willow Man is Tamed On 26 September , T.A. 3018 , he encountered four hobbits while he was searching for water-lilies for his wife. Two of those Hobbits, Merry and Pippin , had been captured by Old Man Willow . Tom, who was the master of the Old Forest, rescued them, and took all four of them to his house.

[4] The four hobbits stayed two nights, and he told them many tales and songs. Apparently, Gildor Inglorion had been to Tom's house, as he knew the hobbits were fleeing the Shire . With cunning questions, he made Frodo tell him of the Ring . When Tom tried it on nothing happened but he then took it off and flipped it in the air and made the ring itself disappear showing that indeed within his realm Tom was master. However, when Frodo put the ring on Tom could still see him. He bade the Hobbit to come back and sit down; his hand was fairer without the ring. The following morning, Tom warned his guests of the Barrow-downs , and advised them to pass any barrow on the western side. He also taught them a song, should they come to peril. [1] And they did come to peril. Tom chased off a wight with song, and broke the spells on the barrow in which the four hobbits were captured. While he sent the Hobbits into calm down, he went for provisions. He also brought the ponies that had belonged to Merry. After that, he broke the spells of the barrow.

From the barrow's mighty hoard, he took a brooch for Goldberry, and gave a dagger to each of the hobbits. He then advised them to make for The Prancing Pony in Bree . [5] The peril of the hobbits was not over; an attack on their lives was carried out, and their ponies were set loose. The ponies apparently remembered the care they were given in the house of Tom Bombadil, and returned to stay beside Tom's own pony, Fatty Lumpkin . He returned them to Barliman Butterbur , the proprietor of The Prancing Pony. Since he had paid eighteen pence as compensation for the loss, he was now the owner of five fine ponies. [6] [ edit ] Etymology and other names Tom Bombadil went by many names: To the Elves and Dúnedain , he was known as Iar wain Ben-adar , which translates to "oldest and fatherless". [2] Iarwain literally means "Old-young" [7] [ edit ] Inspiration Tom Bombadil was inspired primarily from a doll Tolkien's son, Michael, toyed with.[ source?

] Paula Marmor notes that bobadil is an archaic word meaning "braggart", as seen in the character "Captain Bobadill" in the English play Every Man in His Humour . Because of its Bucklandish form, An Introduction to Elvish lists the name Bombadil under the " Celtic -sounding names". However, it is said that the word derives from Boabdil , the Spaniard name of Abu Abdillah Muhammad XII , the last Moorish ruler of Granada. [10] John D. Rateliff has noted a theory launched by scholar Justin Noetzel. In the latter's paper "Beorn and Tom Bombadil: Mythology, Narrative, and The Most (Non) Essential Characters in Middle-earth", Noetzel suggests an association of Tom Bombadil with the Celtic Otherworld and tales of the Tuatha Dé Danann . [11] [ edit ] Portrayal in adaptations Because he is left out of the three major adaptations ( Ralph Bakshi , BBC's 1981 series and Peter Jackson's ), Tom Bombadil's main role (providing the Barrow-blades ) is omitted. He does have several appearances in other adaptations, though.

Tom Bombadil in adaptations 2006: The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth II : Bombadil is a summonable power. Once summoned, he can plow through enemy lines. His most powerful weapon is a "Sonic Song". As soon as EA secured the rights to the books, it was decided that Tom Bombadil should be in it; his appearance is kept close to his description in the book. [14] 2007: The Lord of the Rings Online : Tom can be found either inside or outside his house in the Old Forest. He helps the player track down crebain scouts possessing important information, and later arrives to rescue the player from the Barrow-Downs when (s)he gets himself in more than (s)he is prepared for, much like the Hobbits in the Book. 2012: Lego: The Lord of the Rings : Bombadil is a playable character. He uses a trowel as a weapon and for digging in certain spots. Tom can be found in his house on the road to the north of Bucklebury Ferry in the forested area between Bree and the Shire.

It is unclear if this forest is meant to be the Old Forest or not; it is in the right location, but the game never specifically names it and its physical appearance does not fit the book's description. lord of the rings - Who or what was Tom Bombadil? - Science Fiction & Fantasy Stack Exchange Who or what was Tom Bombadil? Who or what was Tom Bombadil ? Was he an elf? Was he akin to Gandalf, and one of the wizardly stock? Was he something… else? Why the downvote? – espais Feb 3 '11 at 19:47 22 I don't know why someone downvoted. Even if the answer is "it's impossible to say", this question should be answerable. – neilfein Feb 3 '11 at 22:42 7 The two current answers are excellent and fascinating, but there’s an angle they leave completely unexplored. Tolkien drew heavily and consciously on various existing mythologies (most notably, Norse/Germanic); so what characters in these mythologies might have influenced/inspired Bombadil?

He reminds me a little of some of the more veiled incarnations of Odin (earthy; teasing, but more benevolent than a typical trickster)… I don’t know enough background on this to make an answer of it, but I’d love to hear what more knowledgeable folks think along these lines. – PLL Feb 7 '11 at 5:23 8 @Wikis - that may be, but the answers posted here are not mentioned at all in the wikipedia article. – morganpdx Feb 9 '11 at 17:32 22 up vote 251 down vote accepted Tom Bombadil wasn't an elf: Frodo and Strider/Aragorn both know enough about elves at the point Tom Bombadil is introduced to recognize them on sight, and they both act and behave as though he was something foreign and strange. Tom Bombadil was not a wizard (a member of the Istari): there were only five sent to protect and guide the races of Middle Earth during the Third Age: Saruman the White, Gandalf the Grey, Radagast the Brown, and the two wizards Alatar and Pallando.

However, Tom Bombadil displays several curious characteristics that can provide some guidance as to what he is or if he fits into the rest of the Middle Earth mythology: Everyone that seems to know him believes him to have been around for a really long time, possibly for multiple ages. He calls the Old Forest, an offshoot of the forests that once covered Middle Earth and were the home to the Ents, his home and seems to be its master. Additionally, everyone that seems to know him believes him to be more powerful than any other being they know (and the people that know him also know a bunch of really powerful beings) He is completely unaffected by the One Ring (whereas really powerful beings like Sauron, Gandalf, and Saruman are) Likewise, he seems to have very little concern for the politics of the world around him. One theory is that he's part of the so-called Ainur: direct representatives of Ilúvatar (the creator). Depending on how you look at it, Ainur are either gods and demigods or something similar to angels; but pantheism, where the Ainur are merely different aspects of Ilúvatar, more closely describes the mythology of Middle Earth.

The Ainur are broken into two groups: The Valar, which consist of the chief agents of Ilúvatar (think the Roman or Greek pantheon), including Lórien, Mandos, Manwë, and Morgoth/Melkor among others. The Maiar, which consist of servants and aides of the Valar (think demi-gods or archangels). The Maiar include figures like Sauron (Morgoth's right hand) and the Istari. There's speculation that he's a Maia, as he appears to be immortal, isn't a named Vala, and could feasibly be the agent of Yavanna (Vala of nature). However, other Maiar we're exposed to seem to be fully capable of succumbing to the One Ring's power in a way that Tom Bombadil isn't. Other theories include that he's an incarnation of a Vala. However, it's not clear the Valar take incarnations: throughout Tolkien's works, Valar, when they want to interact, send agents or interact directly as themselves. In reality, Tolkien never defines what Tom Bombadil is: not in The Lord of the Rings or in The Adventures of Tom Bombadil.

The closest thing to a definition that Tolkien gives of Tom is that he's extremely old, and simply is. To this end, the third and final theory, that Tom Bombadil is an incarnation of Ilúvatar himself, takes hold. Ilúvatar would definitely not be subject to the corruption of the One Ring, would be far more powerful and older than even the most powerful of the Ainur, and care little for the day-to-day struggles of the mortal and immortal races. Finally, the characteristic that Tom Bombadill simply is is similar to how Yahweh, the god of Abraham and Moses, characterizes himself: I am. But it's best not to think of it too deeply. Tolkien was loathe to create allegories and allusions, saying of The Lord of the Rings: As for any inner meaning or 'message', it has in the intention of the author none. It is neither allegorical nor topical. [...] But I cordially dislike allegory in all its manifestations, and have done so since I grew old and wary enough to detect its presence. I much prefer history, true or feigned, with all its varied applicability to the thought and experience of readers.

Out of universe, Tolkien has two remarks published in Letters that explain who Bombadil is meant to be; the first in Letter 19: Tom Bombadil, the spirit of the (vanishing) Oxford and Berkshire countryside... And the second in Letter 144, first the background (excerpting quite heavily): Tom Bombadil is not an important person – to the narrative ... he represents something that I feel important, though I would not be prepared to analyze the feeling precisely ... the story is cast in terms of a good side, and a bad side ... but both sides ... want a measure of control. And then Tom's role in all of this: But if you have, as it were taken 'a vow of poverty', renounced control, and take your delight in things for themselves without reference to yourself, watching, observing, and to some extent knowing, then the question of the rights and wrongs of power and control might become utterly meaningless to you, and the means of power quite valueless. It is a natural pacifist view, which always arises in the mind when there is a war.

In universe, we know he's not Eru from Letter 153, first of all from the intro: He also cited the description of Bombadil by Goldberry: 'He is.' Hastings said that this seemed to imply that Bombadil was God. Then Tolkien's rebuttal (I've left out a lot here and refer you to Letters for the full discussion): As for Tom Bombadil, I really do think you are being too serious, besides missing the point. (Again the words used are by Goldberry and Tom not me as a commentator) ... Frodo has asked not 'what is Tom Bombadil' but 'Who is he' ... Only the firstperson (of worlds or anything) can be unique. If you say he is there must be more than one, and created (sub) existence is implied. I can say 'he is' of Winston Churchill as well as of Tom Bombadil, surely? Aside from the "enigma" quote in Letter 144, there is another source for who Bombadil may be, and that's given in the published Silmarillion, chapter 2, which itself was derived from a late essay called Of the Ents and the Eagles: Behold!

When the Children awake, then the thought of Yavanna will awake also, and it will summon spirits from afar, and they will go among the kelvar and the olvar, and some will dwell therein, and be held in reverence... This is IMO a credible source. Tom is evidently a nature spirit, and this source explains the origin of nature spirits in Middle-earth (note also that only "some will dwell therein"; evidently there are others that won't). The only thing left out is Tom's claim to be "Eldest", and here I'm going to refer to a passage from Letter 153 which I quoted earlier and will quote again: the words used are by Goldberry and Tom not me as a commentator. This is important, and it must be emphasised: for all of the claims made about Tom, Goldberry is saying them, Tom is saying them, but Tolkien is not. These are words spoken and claims made by characters in Tolkien's world, not by Tolkien himself.

This is a point that Tolkien returns to in the context of Treebeard, also in Letter 153: Treebeard is a character in my story, not me; and though he has a great memory and some earthy wisdom, he is not one of the Wise, and there is quite a lot he does not know or understand. There's a clear distinction being made here, and that is that words spoken or claims made by a character in the story should not be seen as a definitive authorial statement, and the same should be borne in mind when considering Tom. answered Dec 27 '13 at 14:45 user8719 up vote 29 down vote Here is a pretty in depth essay on the possible identity of Tom Bombadil, and it also has a lot of interesting links: Who is Tom Bombadil? by Gene Hargrove. I thought it was particularly interesting that while Tolkien wanted to leave some enigmas in his writing, he also probably had an explanation for himself since he liked to reconcile any "errors".

So the fact that Tom Bombadil was conceived as a separate story and later integrated into LotR doesn't mean that he didn't have an idea of how Tom fits into the overall universe. up vote 8 down vote It strikes me as a surprise that Oldest and Fatherless: The Terrible Secret of Tom Bombadil , one of the more interesting fan theories about Bombadil -- written by a certain livejournal user, km_515 -- isn't mentioned here yet. So, here it goes. All in all, this obviously unofficial theory says Bombadil is an ancient, almost timeless evil rivaling Sauron & Co., biding its time until it can reclaim what it once ruled. Let me give you a quote: The spell that binds Bombadil to his narrow and cursed country was put in place centuries ago by the Valar to protect men and elves. It may last a few decades more, perhaps a few generations of hobbit lives. But when the last elf has gone from the havens and the last spells of rings and wizards unravel, then it will be gone.

And Iarwain Ben-Adar, Oldest and Fatherless, who was ruler of the darkness in Middle Earth before Sauron was, before Morgoth set foot there, before the first rising of the sun, will come into his inheritance again. And one dark night the old trees will march westward into the Shire to feed their ancient hatred. And Bombadil will dance down amongst them, clad in his true shape at last, singing his incomprehensible rhymes as the trees mutter their curses and the black and terrible Barrow-Wights dance and gibber around him. And he will be smiling. ( source , again) Do click the link and read the whole thing for the rather intriguing reasoning. Keep in mind though, that its author also writes: Do I think that Tolkien planned things in this way? Not at all, but I find it an interesting speculation. :) up vote 6 down vote Tolkien - in one of his letters - specifically stated that Bombadill is not Illuvatar.

There is a reference in Tolkien's earlier writings to nature spirits (Fays, Leprawns) and such, and my own feeling is that Bombadill is one of these - a being as old as the world whose purpose may occasionally intersect those of the Valar (and in this case Sauron), but who works out his own task under Eru and takes little part in the struggles of Elves, Men and demons. Tom's remit is to do with the Earth itself and his power and remit are dealt according to that. He is outside the 'politics' of the peoples of the Earth, but not immune should Sauron crush nature itself. Whilst not a maia undoubtedly Yavanna (as instructed by Eru) would know of Bombadill, his fellows and their modus operandii. One of the mischevious folk; seemingly anarchic and a law unto themselves, but built into the fabric of the world since its beginnings by Eru (or a byproduct of the dissonnances between Melkor's discord and Eru's harmony in the Great Music, but still extant by the sovereign will of Eru Himself and given purpose by Him).

That said, I think we can show what Bombadil is not. Tom is not a man, hobbit, elf, or dwarf ...or any other sort of "normal" creature. The ring had no effect on him. Tom is not a Maia Gandalf was also a Maia but he was tempted by the Ring. Likewise, Saruman, the Balrog, and Sauron were able to seduced by the Darkness. In contrast, Tom has little interest in the affairs or "politics" of Middle Earth. Tom is not a Valar As far as it is told, the Valar live exclusively in Valinor. After the destruction of the Two Lamps, the Valar never interacted directly with the affairs of Middle Earth. And after Númenóreans reached Valinor, it was removed from the rest of Arda. Tom is not Eru Tom was not all-powerful, at least according to the Rivendell elves: "But in any case," said Glorfindel, "to send the Ring to him would only postpone the day of evil. He is far away. We could not now take it back to him, unguessed, unmarked by any spy.

And even if we could, soon or late the Lord of the Rings would learn of its hiding place and would bend all his power towards it. Could that power be defied by Bombadil alone? I think not. I think that in the end, if all else is conquered, Bombadil will fall, Last as he was First; and then Night will come." -Fellowship of the Ring Of course, Glorfindel could be wrong. But Tom as Eru would be rather inconsistent with other manifestations of divine beings. Generally, the more powerful the being, the further removed from Middle Earth he is. The wizards (Maia) could not contend with Sauron directly. The more powerful Valar -- Melkor included -- did not live in Middle Earth at all. Clues Though Tom and his origins may be deliberately an enigma, that doesn't mean there aren't clues painting a vague idea. Recall that Glorfindel's said he would be "Last as he was First". In the same meeting, Galdor says, Glorfindel, I think, is right. Power to defy our Enemy is not in him, unless such power is in the earth itself.

So the clues: Tom is unaffected by normal "human" emotions/ambitions Tom is very, very old, even "First" Tom cares more about nature than politics or people Tom is compared to "the earth itself" Tom Bombadil is an incarnation of Arda, or perhaps a steward of Arda, or of Middle Earth. He's a "Mother Earth"/"Father Time" figure of sorts. We can't know exactly, since it is supposed to a mystery. But that's the gist. Human emotions have no more effect on him than they do on a tree, or rock. He is as old or nearly as old as the Earth itself, he enjoys nature, and he cares for it. And he has been there for a very, very long time. EDIT: I found this essay on Tom Bombadil by Gene Hargrove, which describes him similarly, as a Pan-like "nature god". up vote 3 down vote Bombadil has to be a Maia. He himself said he was alive before the Big People. Who are elves and men. Tolkien said Bombadil wasn't Eru in his letters.

There was nothing else in the Silmarillion before the elves besides Eru, the Valar, and the Maiar. Eldest, that's what I am. Mark my words, my friends: Tom was here before the rivers and the trees; Tom remembers the first raindrop and the first acorn. He made paths before the Big People, and saw the little People arriving. He was here before the Kings and the graves and the Barrow-wights. When the Elves passed westward, Tom was here already, before the seas were bent. He knew the dark under the stars when it was fearless - before the Dark Lord came from Outside. ~ The Fellowship of the Ring up vote 1 down vote Clearly Tolkien's intention was to have Tom be a mystery, but if we are allowing an interpretation outside of Tolkien's intention, I have a theory to suggest that I maintain accords with everything in the texts, and which no one else here has yet suggested: Tom was Iluvatar's prototype, which Iluvatar created in Arda for practice before he created the Children. He has a form akin to that of Men or Elves, but not all their features, or frailties.

He is the eldest of all things created in Arda, and is tied to it, but is unique. Goldberry and her father the River and similar creatures may be spirits summoned by the awakened thought of Yavanna, but Tom is distinct. His power comes mainly from being the eldest; he was created before all the rules of nature were finalized and stands a little outside them. up vote 0 down vote I would like to add a theory: Tom Bombadil is Tolkien's ego. From a psychological standpoint, Tolkien delved deep into his unconscious to create the story. He didn't direct it intentionally, per se, but let it tell itself. Even here, though, Tolkien('s ego) is still master, and could do anything. In order to leave the Hobbit/LotR universe as is he could not get too involved, but he could visit it, and it would have no power over him. He could also help when asked. Though he takes no action on his own. I had this in mind when listening to the book and found it to make sense to me.

up vote -3 down vote Yes, a lot of comments on the right track.He was one of those "lesser and greater spirits"/ "other orders" sent into Arda. He is the Green Man, Pan, Kernennos (Herne). Eru is the Universal Creator. Arda is just one amongst millions of worlds created in Ea The Universe. Eru has created lesser Gods and each world has a life-spirit/Earth-God supported by elementals, just as Eru in Heaven is supported by the Ainur in their two orders, Valar & Maiar. Goldberry is one of those elementals (water). Eru created lesser Gods (Earth-bound-Demi-Gods), Ainur (Archangels/His Executive Cabinet), Maiar (Angels/The Divine Administration/Government/Bureaucracy)and other orders of Agents/Operatives (Istari etc) as agents of creation. Certain of them tasked with the agency of sub-creation in different levels of power/authority.

Eru has delegated/decentralised some of his creative powers in greater and lesser amounts according to the roles and capacities of his subjects, this trickling down to humans who, although it is limited have been gifted with free will/agency to act as agents of God's Creation.

Question: What was the name of Tom Bombardils's horse in Lord of the Rings
Answer: Fatty Lumpkin